Re: Plans for college....
As a 6 year Veteran of dorm-life, a two year Veteran of being a Resident Assistant a one year as an Administrative Resident Assistant and having spent more than a few nights in UNH dorms (ex-gf went to UNH Durham) I seem to be uniquely qualified to answer this question.
Security in dorms is always a tricky proposition. Residence Life always does as much as they can to provide a safe and secure environment for the residents. It's in their best interests to do this in order to retain residents.
With that said, dorm theft does happen. However, theft is rarely a random thing.
If they don't know you have something then it greatly reduces the odds that it will ever be stolen. If your guitars are out in the open and easily seen from the hallway or window then you pretty much create a potential target. If the guitar is out of sight, whether in a case underneath your bed or on a stand with something draped over it in front of no one's going to look twice.
Roommates are an X factor. Residence Life is always interested in making sure that students get along. If your roommate and you get along and he understands and respects how you feel about the guitar then obviously nothing is probably going to happen. But you can't always count on that sort of thing.
Laptops are an exceptionally easy target for theft; they're small, they're everywhere and they're very easy to unload. Guitars can be very much if the same caliber, but just not as portable. The good thing about UNH (if memory serves me right) is that there really isn't all that much around there; a guitar being pawned is going to get noticed and will probably be very easy to recover if they try and do it locally.
Honestly, and I don't want you to take this the wrong way....but it's a mass-produced instrument that's meant to be played. You may have a sentimental investment in the instrument but for the most part you can get it out of harms way pretty easily with minor amounts of work. I would say take it to college if you can deal with the possibilities, which can be minimized pretty easily.
I would suggest waiting a few weeks until you get moved in to really evaluate the situation with your roommate. But keep in mind that your status as friends whilst rommates may not go throughout the year; if you're not at each others throats by Thanksgiving then there's something wrong.
Let me know if you have any other questions.